Pipe-bending machine



Jan. 1, 1924 s 1,479,204.

' T. F. oEcHsLE PIPE BENDING MACHINE V Filed Nov. 9, 1921 9 Sheets-Sheet l ima/Mor;

` Theodon 06611516;

Jan. 1V, 1924 y 1,479,204

T. F. oEcHsLE PIPE BENDI MAHINE I Filed Nav. x92: 9 sheets-sheet 2 S Q bd Lis( s? M i ww "gg la Il EL M W 1 El l Si X 74 Jan. 1, '1924 T. F. OECHSLE PIPE BENDING MACHNE I Filed Nov. 9, 1921 Ffc' M 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jari. 1, 19,24 l

1,479,204 T. F. OECHSLE PIPE BENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9. 1921 9 sheets-sheet `4 Jan, 1, 1924 l1,479,204 T. F. oEcHsLE 4 PIPE BENDING MACHINE Filed 9, 1921 9 sheets-sheet S n mi@ m 5.0 L

Jan. 1, 1924 1,479,204

\ T. F. OECHSLE PIPE BENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1921 9 Sheets-Sheet lfcig l mlm Hom/my" Jan. 1, 1924 1,479,204 T. F. OEC'HSLE PIPE BENDING MACHINE F v 9 1921 9 sheets-sheet 'P LiZl Inventor Jan. 1, 1924 1 1,479,204 v 1 .F.loEcHs1.E

' Filed Nov. 9. 1921 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 l jz ."1 1

IF16-1m M11-@Eweka le,

Jan, 1, 1924 T. F. OECHSLE PIPE BENDING MACINE Filed NOV. 9, 1921 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 @Hmmmm ,E IE 1W r avm,

Patented dan. I, 1924i.

UNIT@ QFFICCF.

THEODORE F. CECI-ISLE, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 DAVID LUPTONS SONS COMPANY, 0F' PHILADELPHIA, FEJITSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PIPE-entferne MAcHrNn.

Application led November 9, 1921.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, 'IHnoDoRn F. OECHSLE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new' and useful Improvements in Pipe-Bending Machines, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to pipe bending machines and more especially to apparatus for bending stove pipe or spout elbows from thin sheet metal tubes.

Amongst the objects of my invention are to secure in such ymachines. greater simplicity both as to construction and operation so that pipes of the class specifiedr may be bent with absolute uniformity and precision and more expeditiously than possible with devices heretofore designed for a similar purpose; to render the operation of the machines absolutely automatic; and to enable the crimps, necessary in effecting the bending, to be formed to the exclusion of 'any possibility whatever of fracturing the metal of the pipes.

Other objects and attendant advantages of my invention will become readily obvious from the detailed description which follows:

In the drawings, Figure I is a plan vlew of a pipe bending machine conveniently em'- bodying my invention.

Fig. II is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. III is an elevation of the right hand end of the machine considered with relation to the positioning of Figs. I and II.

Fig. IV is a longitudinal sectional view through the structure.

Fig. V is a cross section viewed in the direction of the arrows V-V in Figs. I, II

and IV.

Fig. VI is an illustration of a portion of the cam for actuating the reciprocating.

Serial No. 514,093.

Fig; XVIII is :i detail cross sectional view along the lines XVIII- XVIII in Figs. I

and II.

Fig. XIX is an illustration showing the type of elbow produced upon the pipe bending machines of my invention.

Fig. XX is a diagrammatical sectional view along the line XX-XX of Fig. I, showing the details of a clutch mechanism whereby the operations ofthe machine are controlled.

Fig. XXI is a cross section through the clutch proper along the lines XXI-XXI in Fig. XX.

Fig. XXII is a cross sectional View along` the line XXII-XXII of Fig. XXI showing the clutch elements in inactive position; and y F ig, XXIII is a view similar to XXII' showing the clutch elements in active position.

In the embodiment which I have chosen for the purpose of illustration herein, the mandrel indicated at l is supported for reciprocation mainly by a bearing 2 which is mounted to the center of the top of a table 3 sustained at an appropriate height from the fioor by means of standards or pedestals 4 4. rIhe left hand end of the mandrel 1 is squared as represented at 5 and guided within a correspondingly shaped opening in the plate 6 of a bracket Z which is secured to a transversely extending, fixed axle shaft 8. Said shaftis clamped in bearings 9-9 bolted to the top of table 3 at the rear end of the machine. By the provisions just described the mandrel l is positively held against rotation in the course of itsreciprocations.

The mandrel derives its motion from rotary cam on a shaft 11 jonrnalled in appropriate bearings and 1.3 which depend 'l'rom the under side oi the top ol' the table 3'. 'lhe cam 10, as best shown in Figs. lt, 1V and XVM, has replaceable riser segments Y-15 attached to opposite sides a central peripheral tlange 1G. The seg; ments 1li-15, during rotation of the cam, alternately engage with rollers 17-17 oi the mandrel, thus causing the latter to be shifted back and forth within its bearings.

Guided by the reduced outer end 14 of the mandrel with capacity for independent axial shifting, is a cross head 18 which is sustained upon a suitable machined sli deway on the top of the table. Said cross head has an integral axial extension or neclr 19 for attachment and support ot an abutment plate 20. Said plate has a circular groove 21 adapted to receive the end oli the pipe P which is to be bent into the form or an elbow. ln practice l have found, in mounting the pipe about the mandrel, that insertion 01E its end within the groove 21 ol? the plate 2O is greatly facilitated when the latter is accordedia certain amount oi indcjendent or 'free motion. To this end, the central opening ot the plate is made somewhat larger in diameter than that oli the neclr` 19 of the cross head. The plate 2U is retained against displacement by aid of screw studs 22%-22 which engage in vert-ical slots at the sides of the neck 19 as shown to best advan tagein Figs. XlV and XVH. The latitude thus afforded the abutment plate 20 also allows the pipe P to yield to a limited extent in the course of the bending operation. The pipe is moved forward step by step under propulsion of the cross head 18 toward a die mechanism 223 which forms succession of crimps in a manner vwhich will be later explained. rlhe cross head 13 is subject to the pull oi' a weight appended to a chain 25 which is' attached to rod 26 extending rearwardly trom said cross head.

The rod 26 is lguided in an i'ipstanding apen tured lug 27 on the cap piece el the bearing 2, and the chain 25 is in turn guided about a sheave 28 mounted 'for -tree rotition on a fixed bracket 29.

rlhe progressive forward movement ol the cross head is brought about by means, and in a manner which may be briefly described as follows:

Vrlhe rear end of the head 18 has a vvertical central slot for accommodation and top of the table 3 directly beneath the mandrei, see Fig. lV. Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in said ligure and that the mandrel is being retracted, it will be apparent that in the course etti-iis" action, the dog 32, by reason oi its engagement" with the rack 311A, holds the cross head stationary while the dog 30 will yield to being raised by the incline ot the first notch 31 in the mandrel. `When the latter is fully retracted the dog 3G ll drop into the next snccee ling; notch 31 since the motion induced in the mandrel by the cam 1() in practice is substantially the as the spacing ofthe notches. ln the shitting` or" the mandrel in the opposite direction, the cross head 1will be moved forward until the extremities of the dog 32 drop into the next adjacent notch of the toothed rack Thus it will be seen that said dogs are independently and alternately operative and, moreover, that one acts as a check upon the other. In this way the pipe P is progressed forwardly, step by step, until the last notch 81 in the mandrel has functioned when the cross head is released to slide back upon the mandrel under pull el the weight 24 to its initial or starting position in a mannerhereinafter set forth in greater detail. The dogs 30 and 32 are connected by means of a bolt 35 but this connection does not interfere with their normal independent action as aforesaid.

Referring now to the die mechanism 23, shown in Figs. lll, V, X, Xl, X11 and Xlll, it will be observed that the matrix element is in the form ot a head Ll0 secured to the outer end of the mandrel 1. Said head 4:0 comprises two disks l1 and 12 which are so configured as to afford between them, a crevice or torininp; groove t3 which, as best seen from Figs. XH and Xlll, extends about the greater portion oi the periphery of the head. lt widest at the top and tapers ngradnally and symmetrically downward alone; the sides ot the head to terminal points very close to the bottoni ot the latter. The c isls l1 and l2 ot the die .head are held in alignment by a'dowel pin 4:4 and rigidly secured to the mandrel 1 by means of an axial bolt 415. Cooperative with the die head 10 are the opposing` male die elements L i6-16 which are exact complementary counterparts ot' one another and are bolted to the'baclz of plates 17m4- ried by slides 48-4f8 mounted in a hori- Zontal transverse guide-way formed iointly by nprights or standards 4f9i19 at the torward corners ot the table 3,-a bridging piece 50 whichspans the standards,-and a bottom strip 51 secured to the top of .said table between the standards. The parts 50 and 51 are `cgrcoved longitudinally for the retainment of tongues projecting from the tops and bottoms of the slides l11S-#18. Said slides are reciprocated in the transverse Said plates 47-47 are car? lll) `l ing 13.

terence guide-Way through the instrumentality of a rotary cam 52 mounted yupon the shaft 11 directly to the rear of the bearing 13 previously referred to. Said cam 52 hasan appropriate endless cam groove, which, through a roller 53 serves to actuate an oscillating lever 54. the latter being centrally pivoted at 55 to the table 3. The ends of the lever 54 are coupled by means of links 56-56 with karms 57-57 mounted on the protruding ends of the shafts 58-58 which have bearing in the uprights @C9-4:9. Secured to the shafts 58-58 within the hollows of the said uprights 49-49 are arms 59-59 which, in turn, are coupled7 through toggle links 60-60, with the slides 8S-d8. Thus for each rotation of the cam 61., it will be seen that the slides 48-48 are advanced and retracted with respect to the mandrel 1.

VReferring again to the plates 47-4-7, it will be observed more particularly from Fig. III. that they are adapted for independent vertical reciprocation relative to the slides lll-4:8 and are guided. and at the same time held to the slides, by means of bolts 61 which extend 'through slots 62. Reciprocatorv motion is imparted to the plates by a rotary cam 65 secured to the shaft 11 with the cam 52 but to the touter side of the bear- Cam 65 serves to actua-te through a roller 66, an element 67 having.y at its upper end, attached extensions with inwardly turned projections or tongues 68-68 which engage within horizontal grooves 69-69 in the front faces of the plates l7--l7. This construction will obviously permit horizontal shifting of theslides 418-418 as previously explained. The die elements 46-46 have comparatively sharp semi-circular edges 76 which force the metal of the pipe .P into the crevice or forming groove 43 of the matrix or head 40 to form an indentation in the manner best shown in Figs. X toXII inclusive. 'Ilie cams 52 and 65 are so placed on theshaft l1 that indentation of the pipe is effected in two distinct stages. The cam is the first to become operative and causes the die elements @f6-46 to be shifted inwardly until they meet at the top as shown in Fig. X, and their arcuate sharp edges 70--70 bite into the sides of the pipe whereupon the cam 65 functions to withdraw the die elements downwardly to complete the indentation. By such stage-wise action in forming the indentations. the possibility of fracturing the metal of the pipe is absolutely prevented.

The cam 65 may be adjusted to vary the vertical movement of the male die elements 46-46 by aid of a plug 71, Figs. VI. VII and VIII. Said plug 71 has at its inner end a number of radial projections or ridges 72 and lits wit-hin a correspondingly shaped aperture 73 extending through the cam The ridges 72 yare of different lengths radially and they may be used selectively to modify the groove of the cam at its innermost or draw point as clearly shown in Fig. YI. The rear end 711 of the plug 71 is cylindrical. and the aperture 73 in the cani is appropriatelyV counterbored for its reception. rlhe plug is held in place by means of a screw 75 which draws the same against a removable threaded plug 76 provided asa closure for the openingof the cam.

Immediately after the pipe has been vindented as above noted, the male die elements 46-46 are withdrawn to their inactive positions and the die head Ll0 moved rearward with respect to the pipe as the mandrel is retracted. As a consequence of this movement of the'head, the indentation of the pipe P is first closed and then folded under or crimped with the result that the protruding front end Vof the pipe is given an angular tilt or bend as clearly shown in -Fig XIII. The formation of the crimp is 40 moves and which is located directly to the rear of the path of movement of the die elements 46--46 and secured to a fixed supporting member 8l. The opening 82 of the plate 8O is, in general, justla-rge enough to accommodate the pipe P to steady the same and prevent spreading thereof during crimping. At its forward end said opening has a tapered internal circumferential recess 83 wherein the displaced metal of the pipe indentation is accommodated as it is folded over. The continued operation of the die mechanism in timed relation lwith the shiftings of the pipe P under propulsion of the cross head 18 in the manner explained, results in the formation of a series of crimps C whichj according to their number, Obviously determine the angle of the bend of the linishedelbow as will be apparent fromV Fig. XIX of the drawings. The

`number of crimps interposed in the pipe `may be predeternnned as will be presently disclosed.

In order to prevent displacement of the pipe P from the groove of the abutment plate 20 during Ythe forward movement of the cross head. 18 and also to assist in preventing spreading during bending, I have provided a supplemental implement in the forni of a grooved disk 85. Fig. IV, adapted to be applied about the outer end of said pipe. Said implement has one or more set screws 86 whereby the pipe end is secured in its groove. and also a. handle 87 adapted to be grasped by the operative of the machine for application of suliicient pressure` manually, to maintain the pipe seated in the groove of the buttress plate as aforesaid.

rIhe machineY is actuated by means of a continuously moving pulley 90 mounted for free rotation upon the fixed axle shaft 8 to one side of the machine. rlhe pulley has a rather heavy rim so to be operative shaft 93 is journalled for rotation in bear-` ings 94 of the table 3 and has secured to it a bevel gear 95 which, through an intermeshing bevel gear 96 scrvcsto drive the shaft 11. v

For the purpose of connecting and dis-A connecting the gear 92 from the l have provided a clutch mechanism which is shown in detail in Figs. XX to XXH inclusive. This mechanism is housed within a casing 97 formed integrally at one side of the gear 92 and includes a collar 98 which is keyed to the shaft 93. Said collar 98 has pivoted to it a dog 99 which is adapted to cooperate with internal teeth 100 of the casing 97. Said casing is closed by a cover plate 101 which is free to rotate on shaft 93 and .from .vhich projects inwardly, lugs 102 and 103. The former 102 of these lugs is bored to receive and guide a spring pressed plunger 105 which engages one end of the dog 99 and tends to maintain the same out of engagement with the teeth 100 in opposition to a spring 106 carried within a suitable socket in the collar 98, said latter spring 106 tending to normally maintain the dog 99 in active position or in engagement with the teeth- 100, see .lr-Fig. XXHI. An axial boss 110 of he cover plate 101 has an integral outstanding cam lug 111 adapted to be engaged by a hook in the end of a control lever 112 which is pivoted at 113 to the side of the table 3. A spring 114 serves tomaintain the hook of the lever 112 in engagement with the stop l.lug 111, to hold the clutch disconnectec, `When the machine is to be started, the handle of the lever 112 is depressed which results in release of the casing cover 1.01 and is locked by means of a hook 116 pivot-ed at 117 to the top of the table 3, said hook 116 engaging with the notched arm 118 secured on the fulcrum shaft 113 with the lever 112. A stop 115, by cooperation with a fixed stud 119 projecting' from the frame 3, prevents excessive motion of the lever 112. The hook 116 has an upstandinw projection 120 which lies within the path of an adjustable screw 121 in an arm 122 projecting laterally from the cross head 18 as clearly shown in Figs, I and X117. Thus it will be seen that as the cross head 13 reaches the forward limit of its travel the screw 121 will engage the upstanding end of the hook 116 to release the latter from engagement with the element 113.

shaft 93,`

in shifting the control lever 112 so that its hook moves into the path of the stop lugv 111, thereby causing withdrawal of Athe .psv-.1l 99 froml the teeth 100 and disconnection of the clutch mechanism. rllhe cam 10 is prevented from overthrowing upon disconnection of the clutch mecha-V nism by means of a stop dog 125 adapted to engage within a notch 126 in theV periphery of said cam as clearly shown in F ig. XVI. Said stop dog 125 it will be noted is spring pressed and hence capable of yielding during initiation of the move-- ment-s of the said cam 10.

After the cross head 18 has been moved forward to the fullest extent, it is released automatically to withdraw to the original or starting position under the pull of the weight 24 in preparation for a succeeding bending operation. r1`his is accomplished by a trip mechanism 130 carried by the cross head. Said mechanism includes a shaft 131 mounted 'for free oscillation in the cross head 18 and having, at one end, an arm 132 which is subject to the pull of a spring 133 operative in maintaining said arm in angular position at opposite sides of the perpendicular through the center of theV shaft 131. To the other end of the shaft 131 is secured an element 135 having a finger 136 which together with a similar finger 137 forming apart of the arm 132 previously referred to, is adapted to engage beneath outstanding projections of the yoke dog 32 (see lligs. 11 and 1X) to lift the same together with the dog 30 (thelatter, it will be remembered being connected by means'of the bolt 35) to release said dogs simultaneously from engagement with the the notches 31, 33, in the mandrel 1 and the rack.- 34 respectively. The last or outermost tooth of the mandrel 1, is made purposely smaller than the others and serves, after the last crimp has been made in the pipe, to move the cross head13 forward an additional step-just sufficient to bring about engagement of the element with an eX- tension 138 projecting from one of the arms 56 of the die mechanism. 1n encountering the extension 138 the element 135 will be rotated clockwise and thus swing the arm" 132 to a position on the opposite side of the center of shaft 131 in which position it will remain until again engaged upon full retraction of the cross head as will be subsequently disclosed. 1n its rearward` movement, after being freed as just eX- plained, the cross head 13 encounters a stop (Figs. 1, H and XEV) which is removably supported upon ledge at the side of the bearing` 2 and held from displacement by a guard plate 141. The rear end of the stop 140 abuts against a lug 142 projecting laterally from the side of the mandrel 1. The limit to which the cross head 18 is retracted may be varied simply by removing the stop 140 and replacing the same by other stops of the same character butof different lengths. Bv this ar,- rangement, various numbers of the teeth 81 of the'mandrel 1 may be employed in obtaining corresponding variations in the number of crimps produced in the pipe and in the angle of the resulting elbow.

In the course of the retraction of the cross head 18, the element 135 of the trip mechanism 130'is engaged by the end of a tappet rod 145 projecting forwardly from the bearing 2 so that the dogs 30 and 32 are freed to resume active positions. Said rod 145 is shouldered as at 146. and may be set in different adjusted positions (in accordance with the adjustments of the stop 140 for the cross head) simply by transposing one or more of the collars 147 from the back end of the rod to a position intermediate its shoulder 146 and the front face of the bearing 2.

lt is thought that the successive steps involved in bending of apipe into the form of an elbow according to my invention are readily understandable from the foregoing and a separate detailed description'of the operation of the machine has therefore been omitted to avoid unnecessary repetition.

Having thus described my invention, claim:

1. A pipe bending machine comprising a die mechanism for crimping the pipe to be bent, a reciprocatory mandrel provided with notches about which the pipe is placed, a cross head for progressing thev pipe step by step though the die mechanism, a gravity dog carried by said cross head adapted to cooperate With the notches in the mandrel in locking the head to the mandrel during the forward movement of the latter, a fixed rack, and a second gravity dog cooperative with said fixed rack in holding the head in check during retractions of the mandrel.

2. A pipe bending machine comprising a die mechanism for crimping the pipe to be bent; a reciprocatory mandrel about which the pipe is placed; a cross head for progressing the pipe step by step through the die mechanism; a dog carried by said cross head adapted to cooperate with notches in the mandrel in locking the head to the mandrel during the forward movements of the latter; a fixed rack a second dog cooperative with said fixed rack in holding the head in check duringV retractions of the mandrel; and means for simultaneously withdrawing said dogs after a predetermined number of crimps have been formed in the pipe to permit the cross head to resume a normal or starting position.

3.' A pipe bending machine comprising a die mechanism for crimping the pipe to be tit' bent; a reciprocatory mandrel about which the pipe is placed; a cross head for pro gressing the pipe step by step through the die mechanism; a gravity dog carriedby the cross head adapted to engage with notches in the top of the mandrel in locking the head to the mandrel during forward movements of the latter; a fixed rack; a sceond gravity dog in the form of a yoke spanning the first mentioned gravity dog and the mandrel and having the ends of its vertical extremities cooperative with said fixed rack in holding the head in che-cl: during retractions of the mandrel; and means for simultaneously lifting the dogs to inactivity `after a predetermined number of crimps have been formed in the pipe to permit the cross head to resume a normal or starting position.

4. A pipe bending machine comprising a die mechanism for crimping the pipe to be bent; al reciprocatory mandrel about which the pipe is placed; a cross head for progressing the pipe step by step with respect to said die mechanism; a gravity dog car-l ried by said cross head adapted to engage with notches in the top of the mandrel in locking the head to the mandrel during the forward movements of the latter; a lixed rack; a second gravity dog cooperative with said fixed rack in holding the cross head in check during retractions of the mandrel; a trip mechanism carried by the cross head, said mechanism including a rock shaft; yielding means for maintaining the rock shaft in either of its extreme positions; fingers carried by said rock shaft adapted to engage the dogs; means for actuating the trip mechanism to move the dogs to inactivity after a predetermined number of crimps have. been formed in the pipe, to permit the cross head to retract to a normal or starting position; and means for again actuating the trip mechanism to restore the dogs to activity when the cross head has resumed its normal or starting position.

5. A pipe bending machine comprising a die mechanism for crimping the pipe to be bent; a reciproca-tory mandrel about which the pipe is placed; a cross head for progressing the pipe step by step through the die mechanism; a gravity dog carried by said cross head adapted to engage with notches in the mandrel in locking the cross head to the mandrel during the forward movements of the latter; a fixed rack; a second gravity dog cooperative with said fixed rack in holding the cross head in check during the retractions of the mandrel; means for tripping said dogs simultaneously after the completion of the bending operation to permit the cross head to retract to a normal or starting position; and an adjustable stop whereby the limit of retraction of said cross headl may be varied with respect to the. notches in the mandrel in predeterminin,g` the numbeiof ciiinps made at each actuation of the machine,

G. The combination in a pipe bending machine of a die mechanism, a. matrix in the form of a head and notched mandrel oveil which the pipe to be bent is mounted7 said head comprising appropriately conigured disks affording a forming 'groove ei;n tending about its peripheiy, means retaining' said disks in rigid aiignment, horizontally movable cooperative male die elements adapted to force the metal of the pipe into the forming groove'ofsaid head, and a gravity dog for shifting the notched mandrel and head bodily to close the indentation in the pipe and to fold over the displaced metal into the form of a crimp.

7. lin a pipe bending machine comprising die ineehani'smV 'for crimping the pipe to be bent, a head :tor removing the pipe with respect to the die mechanism, and saidV head'v being appropriately recessed to 'receive and.

sustainone end of the pipe, the combination of a grooved disk for clamping connection to the opposite endof the pipe, said disk being provided with ahandle whereby an operative, by pressui'e thereon, may'maintain the pipe engaged Within the aforesaid ci-oss head.

in testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 1st day of N'ovembe, 1921.

THEODORE F. OECHSLE.

l/Vitnesses:

JAMES H. BELL, E. L. FUILERTON. 

